Aeroplane.



c; JOHNSON.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 16, I914- 1 14 79 Patented June 29, 1915.

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AEEOPLA'NE.

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Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 29, 1915.

Application filed September 16, me. &ria1No. 861,968.

To all whom it may concern: 1 a 7 Be it known that I, CARL JoHNsoN, a subject of the King of Sweden, and a resident of the city of Cheakamus, British Columbia, of the Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aeroplanes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in aeroplanes, and has for its object the production of an aeroplane which will be so designed as to be adapted to prevent disaster through falling.

A further object is the production of an aeroplane as mentioned, which will be of durable and economical construction, and efficient in use.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.- I

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an aeroplane in flying condition, embodying my invention, the central portion or flexible fabric of'the plane of the machine being omitted, Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the machine in parachute form, the upper end portion of the rudder-carrying arm being broken ofl, and Fig. 4.- is a front elevation ofFig. 3 showing the central portion or flexible fabric of the plane arranged in position.

The preferred form of construction, as illustrated in the drawing, comprises a plane substantially rectangular in form. consisting of a peripheral frame A and a central portion B formed of a suitable flexible material such as fabric, the periphery of said central portion B being secured to said frame. Said frame is of variable or adjustable size and to this end is formed of a plurality of telescoping sections 1 and 2,

the members 1 being in the form of rods, the ends of which slidably engage with the sections 2 which are in the form of tubes. With the arrangement set forth, it will be seen, that when the frame A is distended or enlarged in dimensions, the central portion B of the plane will be drawn taut so as to be substantially coplanar with said frame and result in the formation of a substantially flat plane such as'is necessary in flymg. Upon diminishing of the size of said portion of the central portion B of the plane w ll be crimped or drawn together so as to permit of said portion B flexing upwardly into'parachute form as shown in above and below said frame. The lower set.

of rods comprises rods 3 pivotally connected at their'outer ends with the front and rear portions of said frame medially of the ends thereof. Pivotally connected with the corners of said frame are inwardly extending rods at. The upper set of said rods comprises rods 5 corresponding with and connected to frame A in substantially the same manner as the rods 3, and rods 6 corresponding with and connected to frame A in substantially the same manner as the rods 4. The inner ends of rods 3 are pivotally connected with a post 7 which arises from the wheeled body 8 of the machine, the inner ends of rods 4. being pivotally connected with corresponding corners ofsaid body. The inner ends of rods 5 are pivotally connected with a longitudinally extending rod tion between the arm 10 and rod 9 is spaced slightlyfrom the forward end of arm 10. Cooperating with said arm are flexible elements 13 and 14 the upper ends of which are connected with said arm at opposite sides of the pivotal point thereof, the lower ends of said flexible elements being wrapped upon rotatable drums 15 suitably mounted in the bottom of body 8.

With the construction set forth it will be seen, that the elements 13 and 14 serve the double function of normally holding the arm 10 in horizontal or fig position and of rocking the inner ends of the sets ofrods cooperating with the frame A toward each other, it being clear that, upon tightening of the elements 13 and 14:, the rod 9 will frame, it. will be seen,v that the peripheral d be drawn downwardly and the bodg 8 will be drawn upwardly. When this is one the inner ends of rods 5 and 6 will necessaril be rocked downwardly and the inner en of rods 3 and l rocked upwardly, with the result of distending the frame A and consequently drawing taut the central plane portion B. In this condition the machine is, of course, adapted for flying. In case of accident and enforced sudden descent, it is only necessary torelease the flexible elements 13 and 14:. When this is done, the controlling rods of frame A will be released so as to permit of said frame diminishing in size, the arm 10 being simultaneously released so as to permit of the latter automatically swinging upwardly in order to serve as a sort of balance in the descent of the machine. Upon the release of the rods 3, l, 5 and 6, as mentioned, the resistance of the air upon the under side of plane portlon B will cause the latter to be flexed upwardly into parachute form, with the result of breaking the fall of the machine so as to carry the operator or aviator to safety without disastrous results which might otherwise have occurred.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrymg my invention into effect, this is capable of variations and modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set' forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let-' ters Patent is:

1. In an aeroplane, the combination of. a plane comprising a frame variable in size, and a flexible central portion, the periphery of which is secured to said frame and two sets of substantially radially disposed rods having their outer ends pivotally connected with said frame, adapted to hold the latter in distended condition so as to retain said central portion drawn taut, the inner ends for releasably holding said frame in dis-' tended condition so as to retain said central portlon drawn taut,said means being adapted to move 1n opposite directions from said plane assuming extremities of the rods of each of said sets being pivotally connected, said sets of rods projecting angularly in opposite directions from the plane of said frame to contract the latter and permit of said central portion of means for rocking said inner ends of said sets of rods toward each other to distend said frame and cause the central portion of saidplane to be drawn taut, substantially as described.

4. In an aeroplane, the combination of a normally substantially flat plane; means for distorting said plane into-parachute form; and a pivotally mounted rudder-carrying arm adapted to assume a perpendicular osition when said plane is in parachute f rm, substantially as described.

arachute form; and

5. In an aeroplane, the combination of a plane comprising a frame adjustable in size, and' a flexible central portion having its periphery secured to said frame; two sets of rods having their outer ends pivotally connected with said frame, the inner extremities of the rods ofeach of said sets being pivotally connected, said sets of rods projecting angularly in opposite directions from the plane of said frame to contract the latter and permit of said central portion of said plane assuming parachute form; means for rocking said inner ends ofsaid sets of rods toward each other to distend said frame and cause the central portion of said plane to be drawn taut; and a pivotally mounted rudder-carrying arm connected with said frame adapted to assume a perpendicular position when said plane is in parachute'form, substantially as described.

6. In an aeroplane, the combination of a plane comprising a frame adjustable in size, and a flexible central portion having its periphery secured to said frame; two sets of rods having their outer ends pivotally C011,- nected with said frame, the inner extremities of the rods of each of said sets being pivotally connected, said sets. of rods projecting angularly in opposite directions from the plane of said frame to contract the latter and permit of said central portion of said plane assuming parachute form; means for rocking said inner ends of said sets of rods toward each other to distend said frame and cause the central portion of said plane to be drawn taut; a pivptall mounted ruddercarrying arm connects with said frame In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CARL JO Fill SON.

Witnesses CHARLES REID, R. H. Ho MEs. 

